Extraction equilibria of monocarboxylic acids with trialkylphosphine oxide

Liquid-liquid extraction based on reversible chemical complexation is a nov el separation technique that is highly effective and selective for separati ng polar organic solutes from aqueous solutions. Equilibria of aqueous solu tions of formic acid, acetic acid, propionic acid, butyric acid, caproic ac id, monochloroacetic acid, dichloroacetic acid, trichloroacetic acid, and l actic acid with trialkylphosphine oxide in kerosene were investigated. Equi librium concentrations are given at 298 K. An extraction equilibrium model was used to describe the experimental data. Calculated organic acid concent rations in both phases are in good agreement with the experimental values.